Miles to Kilometers Converter — Convert mi to km Instantly

About Miles to Kilometers Conversion

Miles (mi) and kilometers (km) both measure distance, but they’re used by different audiences. Miles dominate U.S. road signage and many travel guides, while kilometers are standard worldwide for mapping, athletics, and science. Converting mi → km makes it easy to read and share distances across maps, itineraries, training logs, and specs that use the metric system.

The international mile is defined as exactly 1.609344 kilometers. That fixed relationship keeps your conversions precise across GPS exports, spreadsheets, and reports. If you later need the reverse, convert kilometers back to miles by dividing by 1.609344 without introducing drift.

Miles to Kilometers Formula

Exact relationship

Use either form:

kilometers = miles × 1.609344
// equivalently
kilometers = miles ÷ 0.621371192

Example:

26.2 mi (marathon) × 1.609344 = 42.16436 km

Reverse calculation (km → mi)

Divide by 1.609344: miles = kilometers ÷ 1.609344.

What is a Mile?

A (statute) mile equals 5,280 feet. It’s standard in the United States and appears in many automotive displays, road atlases, and running communities that track pace per mile.

What is a Kilometer?

A kilometer equals 1,000 meters. It’s the global default for road distances, outdoor recreation (hiking, cycling), and scientific reporting. The metric ladder (m ⇄ km) is decimal-based, simplifying mental math and unit scaling.

Step-by-Step: Converting mi to km

Write your distance in miles (decimals are fine).
Multiply by 1.609344 (or divide by 0.621371192).
Label the result in kilometers (km). For logs and reports, round to 2–3 decimals for readability.

Example walkthrough (road trip planning):

Input:  180 mi
KM:     180 × 1.609344 = 289.68192 km
Round:  ≈ 289.68 km

Common Conversions

Handy table for travel, training & mapping

Miles (mi)	Kilometers (km)
1	1.60934
5	8.04672
10	16.09344
13.1	21.08218
26.2	42.16436
50	80.46720
100	160.93440
500	804.67200

Precision, Rounding & Significant Figures

Everyday rounding

For travel estimates, one decimal kilometer is typically enough. For performance tracking (running, cycling), two decimals make pacing clearer. This tool shows five decimals for transparency—round to your use case.

Consistent documentation

When sharing data, note the exact factor (1.609344) so teammates and apps reproduce your results exactly.

Use Cases of MI → KM

🗺️ Travel & tourism: Convert U.S. guidebook distances for metric readers and international itineraries.
🏃 Running & cycling: Translate mile-based workouts into kilometers for event prep and pacing.
🚗 Automotive: Compare odometer readings, service intervals, and fuel economy specs across regions.
📦 Logistics: Keep documents consistent when carriers or clients request distances in kilometers.
🛰️ Mapping & GIS: Normalize data layers that mix imperial and metric units.

Related Length Converters

Quick Reference Table

Kilometers (km)	Miles (mi)
1	0.62137
5	3.10686
10	6.21371
21.0975	13.10938
42.195	26.21876
50	31.06856
100	62.13712

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you convert miles to kilometers?

Use the exact formula: kilometers = miles × 1.609344. Since 1 mile equals exactly 1.609344 kilometers, multiplying by this factor converts any mile value to kilometers.

What is 1 mile in kilometers?

1 mile = 1.609344 kilometers, exactly. A handy mental estimate is 1 mile ≈ 1.61 km.

How many kilometers is 10 miles?

10 × 1.609344 = 16.09344 km.

Is the mile-to-kilometer conversion exact?

Yes. The international mile has been defined as exactly 1.609344 km since 1959, so the relationship is precise.

What’s a quick mental estimate from miles to km?

Multiply by ~1.6 for a quick result. For a closer estimate, add ~0.6% (because 1.609344 is slightly more than 1.6).

Does this apply to nautical miles?

No. Nautical miles are different: 1 NM = 1.852 km. Use a dedicated nautical mile converter for maritime or aviation distances.

Why do results on different sites vary slightly?

Differences are from display rounding. This tool uses the exact factor internally and shows 5 decimals by default for clarity.

Should I use kilometers or miles in my document?

Use miles for U.S. road signage and audiences; use kilometers for global standards, scientific reporting, and most running/cycling events.

Do car dashboards and GPS apps convert automatically?

Many do. If not, convert manually with this tool and note the exact factor (1.609344).

Is it better to convert miles to meters first, then to kilometers?

No—converting mi → m → km adds extra rounding. Convert directly with kilometers = miles × 1.609344.

Tips for Working with Kilometers

When documenting routes, include both miles and kilometers to serve global audiences.
For fuel and timing estimates, keep all calculations in a single unit system to avoid rounding drift.
Note the exact factor (1.609344) in spreadsheet headers to keep teams aligned across exports and apps.